The Reckoning: Answering the Call

“All BADGE operatives and heroes of Earth. We have a priority one alert. Our enemy will show himself soon. We have little time. I need all heroes to converge in the area of Bursa, Turkey at once. All BADGE transports will join in evacuation efforts. I do not want a single civilian left in the entire country of Turkey, and possibly the surrounding area. I will send BADGE commanders to coordinate efforts with the Government of Turkey. There is no timetable, this must be done immediately. Nova out!”

    The small hairs along Starmaster's neck stiffened. With all the strange going events happening around the world, he couldn't say he was surprised by the message. Demonic images appearing on television and a 747 nearly crashing outside New York were just the latest signs big trouble was afoot. This would be the first  time he would team up with BADGE on such an important mission.

    "What were you saying about the engine?" his potential customer asked.

    Starmaster blinked twice, focusing back on his job as a car salesman at Jim Bob's Vintage Autos. "Um... The engine has been rebuilt using all original parts." In his secret identity, Alex Winters needed to make big bux to continue to advance the technology in his psi-enhancing suit, as well as pay for trivial things like food and rent.  "I'm so sorry, you have to excuse me. I'll have someone else here to help you as soon as I can." He walked toward the business office, leaving the balding, middle-aged man standing with his mouth open.

    "What's going on? Where are you going?" The man stammered as Alex opened the door to the office.

    I have to go and help save the world! Alex wanted to be honest about the situation, but knew he couldn't be. "Family emergency."

    As he entered the small office and closed the door behind him, the two other salespeople looked up from their desks.  The older of the two, Stan, stood up and peered through the window into the showing room. "Let another one get away?"

    "No, he's still out there if you want him. He's wanting the mid-life crisis upgrade." Special car-salesman code for a buyer wanting something sleek, red, fast, and showy. "I've got to leave."

    "Not again." The other sales associate, an attractive twenty-ish red-head, blurted out. "You can't go. I have to. My...my mother fell down her stairs. I just got of the phone with the boss and he said I could leave."

    Damn. Alex ground his teeth together as his jaw set.

    "Well, too bad for the both of you. I'll go reel in the sucker out there." Stan smoothed his tie over the bulging buttons straining to keep his belly hidden and shuffled past Alex into the showroom.

    "I'm sorry to hear that, Angela. But I have to go. I can't explain it, but--" Having only started this job a few weeks ago, he knew she had seniority over him. If her mom were hurt, he couldn't expect her to stay.

    Angela grabbed her belongings and hustled to the side door leading to the underground parking area. "I'm sorry too. I don't have a choice."

    The door slammed behind her with a resounding click.

    Standing in the empty office, Alex slammed his hand onto a corner of the nearest desk. Picking up a pen and scribbling on a post-it note, he penned a note of resignation. "There goes another career." He commented to the empty room. Sometimes being a hero could really bite.
 
    He exited through the same door as Angela, aware he couldn't simply teleport out as he would prefer to, due to the security cameras in the room. He sprinted down the stairs to the final door leading to the garage.
   
    Dimly lit, as most underground structures were, there were several shadowy areas he could make use of to depart unseen from. Alex bolted to a door leading to the maintenance room. He had used it before when he needed to make a discrete exit.

   Yanking the door open, he stepped in as he watched over his shoulder for people passing by.  Not seeing anyone, he slipped into the short corridor and pulled the door closed behind him.

  "What!!! Get out of here!" Angela shouted. She pulled a bolt of fabric over her partially naked body. A shimmering golden mask covered her eyes as she glared at him.

    Chuckling, Starmaster held his hands non-threateningly toward her. "Calm down. I take it you got Director Nova's message too."